
Manga Drawing Course in Tokyo, Japan
4 - 12 weeks
English
Program start in January, April, July, & October
15+
990 EUR
Skill Development Course
Manga and Japanese Lessons
The drawing course is conducted by Mangajuku, a leading manga school in Jimbocho, central Tokyo. The school has produced several professional and well-known manga artists. A Japanese- and English-speaking coordinator will be present during the lessons to translate. You don't need any prior knowledge in manga drawing, but if you're already an ambitious hobbyist, that's also suitable! Over three months, there are a total of 16 lessons offered in the afternoons.
In the mornings, you will attend Japanese lessons from Monday to Friday for 4 x 45 minutes daily, with all levels from beginner to upper-intermediate offered.
Course Content
Weeks 1–4 (Lessons 1–5) | |
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Self-introduction of the participants. We will start with some exercises, including drawing with a dip pen, filling in, whitening out with liquid, and using screentones. |
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How to draw manga faces. Deformation and expression techniques that show human emotions like joy, anger, worry, and satisfaction. |
![]() | Lesson 3: The Whole Character Positioning techniques for the entire character, including head, body, and proportions, body deformations, and attractive poses. |
![]() | Lesson 4: Character Design 1 Methods of character design through fashion, body shape, and hairstyle. |
![]() | Lesson 5: Character Design 2 Drawing characters in different styles and themes of Japanese manga. |
Weeks 5–8 (Lessons 6–10) | |
![]() | Lesson 6: Characters in Motion Practice drawing characters in motion. Creating side compositions or compositions based on a previous composition. |
![]() | Lesson 7: Professional Character Design We meet a professional manga artist who will talk about the typical work of a professional manga artist and their approach to character design. |
![]() | Lesson 8: How to Draw Backgrounds Basic methodology for creating backgrounds, including clouds and skies, trees and leaves, seas and waves. Shaving technique using screentone. |
![]() | Lesson 9: Scene Allotment Basic description of panel layout. Trial production of a one-page scene allotment based on an existing story. |
![]() | Lesson 10: Digital Production (Monochrome) Drawing manga with the computer software "CLIP STUDIO PAINT". |
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![]() | Lesson 11: Graduation Project 1 - Monochrome (Draft) Creating a cover page for your manga debut as a professional manga artist. Drafting with a pencil. |
![]() | Lesson 12: Graduation Project 2 - Pen Lining Creating a cover page for your manga debut as a professional manga artist. Pen lining and adding the title (if handwritten). |
![]() | Lesson 13: Graduation Project 3 - Digital Colour (1) Colouring the project work using a computer. Colouring the cover page. |
![]() | Lesson 14: Graduation Project 4 - Digital Colour (2) Completion of the digitally coloured graduation project. |
![]() | Lesson 15: Excursion An observation tour through Akihabara on the history of manga and videos related to manga drawing. |
![]() | Lesson 16: Final Comment and Graduation Ceremony Review of graduation projects and professional feedback. Presentation of the course completion certificate. |
Program details
FAQs
Rates
Who can join
Program start
Getting there
Visa
Accommodation Options
Extras
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Book or Send an Inquiry
What is included?
- Manga course, number of lessons as booked
- 20x45 minutes of Japanese language lessons per week
- Participation in World Unite! social meetup events (1x monthly) and language exchange events (2x monthly) as well as cultural events (1x monthly) at no extra cost!
- All teaching materials for the language course
- All materials for the Manga course
- Access to our mobile-friendly Knowledge Base incl. videos and texts about your life in Japan
- Zoom preparation session before your arrival
- On arrival, pick up from Haneda or Narita Airport by public transport and drop to accommodation
- Bilingual Contact person on site (English and Japanese) for any assistance
- Support at our office or remotely (line, whatsapp, phone, email) during your time in Japan!
- CO2 compensation of your long-haul flights: Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
Not included?
- Accommodation (but you can book it as an extra!)
- Meals (unless inlcuded in your accommodation plan)
- Airport pick-up (guided pick-up upon arrival with public transport is included if you book our accommodation and land on a Friday between 8 AM and 8 PM)
- Travel to/from Japan (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
- Official fees for Visa
- Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
- Personal Expenses
- Vaccinations
- Local Transport
INSIGHT
this program
Lessons at a leading manga school in Japan
Affordable accommodation can be booked
Program takes place at the epicenter of manga culture
Contact with many international travelers in the sharehouse
Participation in events, language exchange at no extra cost
Questions?
your consultant for this program is
Zoe Steinmeyer
(she/her)
- PHONE numBerView our international phone numbers
- Email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Whatsapp+81-90-4702-1361
- INQUIRYSend an inquiry
- Video callBook a video call
